It's cold and damp outside, drying days are few, and the cost of water and electricity are at an all-time high. However, those beds still need changing. If you're thinking of turning down the washing machine temperature dial to save energy and costs, the question of what figure to set it at to ensure that your bedding is still hygienically clean may have raised its head.
And then, of course, there's the dilemma of the frequency of changing the sheets. Thankfully, Express.co.uk spoke to several laundry experts who revealed the best temperature to wash bedding, how often, and their thoughts on using a laundry cleanser.
Questions that raised the debate began on Facebook group, Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips. Asking whether 60 degrees Celsius was “the best wash to put bed clothes and sheets on”, replies flooded in. One person said: “I use 60 for bedding and towels. 30 for everything else.” Another agreed: “I put mine on 60 so they get really clean and it kills bacteria.” And a third said: “Always do 60 for bedding & towels.”
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Others chose a lower temperature: “I do mine at 40 and use anti-bacterial cleaners in with the softener every week.” Joining in the conversation, another person said: “With the detergents we have now 30 is fine.” And another agreed: “Due to the new washing powders available it is perfectly okay to wash bedding and such on 30.”
The advice continued. One person suggested adding natural cleaning products to the wash to ensure a hygienic clean: “I use Soda crystals and white vinegar alternately in every wash, at 30 don't have a problem.”
Big brands have also clicked on to the laundry cleansers idea with several manufacturers producing products that can be added to a wash to kill bacteria at a lower temperature. Express.co.uk previously spoke to Astonish, who have a Protect + Care Laundry Cleanser that “is a biodegradable additive that kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria on your fabrics and inside the drum, even at low temperatures, giving you a hygienically clean wash”.
The product is “ideal for towels, children's clothes, sportswear, underwear, socks, bedding and more, with an allergen free fragrance”. It is used by adding to the fabric softner drawer of the washing machine. You then wash as normal using your usual laundry detergent.
Smol, on the other hand, suggest alternating the temperature of a wash depending on whether bio or non-bio products are being used. Kathleen Bell, a sustainable cleaning expert at smol was reported as saying: “smol’s concentrated bio laundry capsules are best used in mid to low-temperature washes (ideally between 30-40 degrees).
“The detergent contains enzymes that help break down common stains, such as food stains, sweat stains, grass stains and grease. These enzymes are really effective at breaking down these hard to remove stains, and lifting them from your clothes.
“smol’s non-bio laundry capsules do not contain the same enzymes but are still effective at killing germs and bacteria whilst remaining super gentle and delicate. For non-bio washes, you may need to use a higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process.”
In terms of how often you should be washing your bed sheets, Ryan Thaker, marketing executive at MattressNextDay, said: “The general guideline is that those sheets and pillowcases should be stripped off and you should change your bedding at least once a week. If your sheets feel damp and ‘clammy’ after a night’s sleep, it’s well worth putting them through a wash and dry so that they’re fresh for the next night. If you’re going through menopause and hot flushes or night sweats are part of your hormonal torment, popping fresh sheets on can make you feel better.
“Some medical conditions require that your bed is as clean as it can be with no bacteria or dust to trigger allergies. If you suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or a respiratory condition like asthma, they may be aggravated by dust or bacteria. Therefore, you should wash your sheets as often as possible.”
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